Building Blocks

To create the list, TIME gathered nominations its editors and correspondents and evaluated each contender on key factors, including originality, creativity, effectiveness, ambition and impact.

We caught up with Assaf to learn about how his career as an educator has informed his work with Toyish Labs, why he feels perfectionism holds back creativity and where the idea for Clixo came from.

“My aim is to create a toy that blends classic wooden toys with electronics and helps kids navigate this increasingly digital world,” said Hayri Bulman, founder of QUBS.